Company CDL School Tuition

Most companies that offer CDL training require some pay back - it can be a commitment to drive certain time, or certain distance. That makes perfect sense, because companies invest in their prospective drivers, and there is no free cheese as we all know. This is the reason why all trainees sign a contract. But what are these companies' obligations? It is definitely not only training, they need to provide at least two other things, i. e. a truck and some fright, otherwise new CDL holders will simply be unable to do their part of the contract. Now, if a new driver simply walks away, he violates the contract, that is clear. But what if a company breaks a contract? For example, doesn't give a truck? And if a company fires a driver, who is willing to drive for the company, does it mean that the contract is void? All these questions are closely related to my personal situation: my employment was terminated after three months, and shortly after that I received a $6500 bill. On the one hand, this company invested in me quite a bit (lodging, fuel, rentals, CDl training, etc.), on the other hand it was not my decision to turn in the truck. Did anyone have to deal with a similar situation?

You owe Roehl $6500, because the story of how you got fired sounds fishy to anyone who’s experienced a preventable at their starter company.

Andrey, it could be worse.

CRST wouldn't have RELEASED you to drive for ANYONE else..until the 7.5k (guesstimate?) was paid, in full. It's a tough bite to take; don't know what else to tell you... scares ME, also.

Just set up a payment plan w/Roehl; and stay blessed on this local job you've landed!

~ Anne ~

The terms of the contract are drive for x amount of miles or pay us back. You weren't able to drive for that amount of miles, so they went their money. The expenses for training you don't disappear because they fired you and they're not in it to take a loss.

I don't know why you got fired, but the terms are simple. A termination from either end results in you owing them.

CRST wouldn't have RELEASED you to drive for ANYONE else..until the 7.5k (guesstimate?) was paid, in full.

That's weird. If someone is fired, he is no longer under any contracts, isn't is so? And if he is under a contract, that means he can drive and earn?

The terms of the contract are drive for x amount of miles or pay us back.

So if the company goes bankrupt, sells all it's trucks and stops moving freight, it can still ask for tuition? Doesn't make any sense to me.

You owe Roehl $6500, because the story of how you got fired sounds fishy to anyone who’s experienced a preventable at their starter company.

Doesn't really matter how it sounds, Roehl has tested me three times (for CDL , after a month with a trainer, and before giving me a truck) and had enough time and information to decide whether they want to employ me or not. Incidents and even accidents happen all the time, especially at the beginning, I can hardly imagine a driver who has never had a single incident in his career... On my side, I was ready to keep driving for Roehl, if needed, take any additional training, but I had no intention to break my word - I committed to driving 120k mi, and I stand by that. If Roehl wants tuition money back, they will have to rehire me, this is the only solution I see.

Their end was to train you to get your CDL. They fired you for not keeping up your end, to be a safe driver. Every company has their criteria for what they will work with and what they won't. If you don't pay them they will send you to collection. I have to assume you read and understood the contract before you signed it, if you didn't, that was your first mistake. You are not the first person at Roehl to go through training and then be fired.

Now if you still want to be a truck driver, you need to find a company who will hire you.

Good luck.

If someone is fired, he is no longer under any contracts, isn't is so?

Andrey, the contract is (not was) a finance plan (a loan). Roehl loaned you the money for tuition. Yes, you expected to have a job with Roehl, and they expected to take payments out of the paycheck they gave you.

The reason they terminated you is not connected to the contract. Also, you benefited from the loan, getting your CDL school paid for.

As for your willingness to drive for Roehl, remember that are hundreds or thousands of people ready and willing to drive an 18 wheeler for anyone who will give them that job. But said company sees something undesirable in that person (I'm not referring to just you here), such as previous work history, driving record, even possibly a credit score which in their opinion makes hiring that person a bad idea. So "willing to drive" on your part doesn't count.

That's weird. If someone is fired, he is no longer under any contracts, isn't is so? And if he is under a contract, that means he can drive and earn?

No, he can't. The contract isn't a guarantee of employment. The contract is "you can pay us by driving or pay us with cash". You're confusing the terms of the contract. For whatever reason, the driving payment didn't work out so now it's option B. The cash option.

So if the company goes bankrupt, sells all it's trucks and stops moving freight, it can still ask for tuition? Doesn't make any sense to me.

My understanding, in that situation you wouldn't have to pay them unless they sell, then you may end up owing the buyer. Idk, IANAL. I don't get what that has to do with anything. Roehl didn't go bankrupt.